Ian McRae, who oversaw Eskom’s ‘electricity for all’ policy, dies
The much respected former CEO of Eskom, Ian McRae, died in the early hours of Sunday morning July 12, 2020. He was 90 years old.
Born in Germiston on September 24, 1929, Ian Campbell McRae started his career as an apprentice fitter and turner at Eskom. After qualifying he went on to obtain a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
He rose through the ranks at Eskom, primarily in power stations and engineering until he was appointed as Chief Executive in 1985.
At this most challenging time in South African history, McRae worked tirelessly to promote the benefits of electricity as a driver of social and economic development.
His vision of ‘electricity for all’ and the interconnected ‘Southern African grid’ became an inspiration for utilities across the globe as well as serving as a rallying call for many South Africans.
After retiring from Eskom in 1994 he was appointed as the Chief Executive tasked to establish the National Electricity Regulator.
McRae’s passing defines the end of an era in South Africa’s electricity supply; an era characterised by his remarkable visionary leadership. Committed to genuine consultation, McRae epitomised at-your-service leadership.
McRae received many awards, the most notable being:
- the Order of Meritorious Service – Gold Class – South Africa, in 1993;
- an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering (University of the Witwatersrand), in 1989;
- the Servant Leadership Award (Samford University USA), in 1992; and
- the World Energy Council 75th Anniversary Award for Global Leadership, in 1998.
In a video tribute, current Eskom CEO, Andre de Ruyter, described McRae’s contribution to the South African electricity industry as “enormous and transformational”.
De Ruyter noted that McRae had presided over a major build programme that led to the development of many of the large power stations still operated by the utility.
Comments
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation